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The Responsibility Of Odysseus Free Will In Homer's Odyssey

662 Words3 Pages

Will Cho
Period 7
October 19, 2015
In Book 1, Telemachus replies to his mother, “Poets are not to blame, but Zeus who gives / what fate he pleases to adventures men” (12). Telemachus is implying that humans do not have a say in their life (free will), and fate is responsible for human actions. However, free will is supported by evidences suggested by the book. Despite the fact that fate may have a minimal role, free will and the individual themselves is ultimately responsible for their actions. In the epic of The Odyssey, the individual has a free will and is responsible for human beings’ actions because although fate may give the chance, the person has to chose to utilize the chance and fulfill the destiny. Zeus mentioned exasperatedly in Book 1, “My word, how mortals take the gods to task! All their affliction come …show more content…

Odysseus’ crew raided the land of the Cyclopes and waited for the inhabitants to come back. Polyphemus came back, ate 2 of the Akhaians, and left the others to groan and wait for the morning (154). Odysseus, in the morning, gave Polyphemus alcohol to become drunk, stabbed him in the eye with a scalding hot hand spike, and escaped underneath Polyphemus’ handsome, fat, dark violet rams. Odysseus says his name is “Nobody” at first, but then he foolishly screams his true name after his ship was out of Polyphemus’ throwing range. Polyphemus prayed to his father Poseidon to curse Odysseus with loneliness and bitter days at home (160-161). Poseidon blocked Odysseus' attempts to return to Ithaca as punishment for him blinding Poseidon's son Polyphemus. Although Poseidon did curse Odysseus’ destiny, the Great Tactician used his wits and still found his way back to Ithaca. This is an example of how free will is responsible. Fate is a guide or more like an obstacle in this case, not the main lead. Odysseus’ choice to go home is the ultimate responsible for his

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